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Parenting -- Special Concerns
If you have low income, where do you live?
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Anonymous
I know I'd love to be indebted for favors in exchange for having an adult who has my back. It's not usually things that are big IOU's anyway, is it? Like watching TV with an ear out for my kids who are in bed, so that I can run to get a gallon of milk or pick up my older son from a sporting event that ran late... what do I owe her for that? Not a ton, but I'm happy to cover for her too. It just adds a layer to your back up plans, which as a single mom is priceless to me. I agree though that the privacy thing would be the biggest potential drawback. Even with private bedrooms, the living room and kitchen are common areas and that would take getting used to. Plus I have insomnia, so I'm roaming at 2 AM and watching TV for an hour or so, having a snack, etc. Not sure how those things work in a roomie scenario. |
Anonymous
| I agree PP if it works it could be great. I work from home and keep crazy hours and am a bit of a noise nut (I can't work when the TV's on) and keep crazy hours so that, in addition to being apprehensive about the roommate wrinkles, made me pass on coabode. It's a great idea and it must be terrific when it works! |
Anonymous
| Talk to your friends and neighbors in Cheverly and let them know what's going on. If one of our friends were in that situation we would (and have) put them up in a heartbeat. You might even want to post something on one of the local groups like CPRC or the Cheverly Exchange to see if someone in town might want to do a co-abode type thing. Cheverly is such a warm, supportive town and I am sure if people knew they'd be coming up with all kinds of offers. |
Anonymous
| You could also rent out the basement as an in law suite to someone and they wouldn't have to be involved in your family's life. If there's a bathroom, an outside door etc in your family room you could easily add a small frig and microwave and rent it to a grad student at UM for $800 to $900 per month. |
Anonymous
Re: sharing home upkeep responsibilities. I would expect my roomate to help if we rented a home together. Tenants in single family homes are responsible for basic maintanence like snow, leaves, mowing. We'd have to have an agreement in advance if we rented a home together. The difference here is I am the homeowner, she is the renter. I didn't put anything in the lease about sharing yard responsibilities, so by default it all falls on me. I don't complain. But it is one of the ONLY things I miss about my ex, that I miss about having a "partner" (if you could call him that). |
Anonymous
| Right different dynamics, two renters versus homeowner and one renter. I so hear you, 22:27. I am so sick of every single household chore and errand falling on me. |
Anonymous
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I would not want to be a single older woman in this snow! The shoveling really tired me out.
I think I'll be going the condo route as soon as my kids are out of the house! |
Anonymous
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PP here, also the next time I get a renter I am going to discuss yard maint. in advance. If she doesn't want to help personally perhaps we can agree to share the costs of a service. If you live in an apartment or other community that kind of thing is covered in your fees. No reason a single family home should be any different.
She did not lift a single shovel of snow in this historic snowfall 
- Tired |
Anonymous
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OP -- what are the apartments like near where you work?
I don't think realistically you can afford a house, on $35K a year. |
Anonymous
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OP -- on your salary, I think you can afford something like $900 a month in rent?
What about a 2 bedroom apartment like this one? Would it be convenient to your kids school and your job? http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/apa/1520903376.html |
Anonymous
| I make around 47k and I live in Hyattsville. |
Anonymous
| I'm reading it that the OP already has a home in Cheverly. How much is your mortgage payment? Renting a 2 bedroom in Hyattsville would run you $1200 per month, is your mortgage much more than that? I guess it all depends on when you bought. I have a friend with a 2 year old in Cheverly who is thinking about leaving her DH. She wants to look for another single mother to co-abode with in the neighborhood. Would your house work for a single mom with a toddler? Would your kids get along with a small child too? She owns too in town but the house is small and her soon to Ex it keeping it. |
Anonymous
That sure would work! I'm very interested in talking to your friend. |
Anonymous
| OP again-- my mortgage is $1500/m. My kids are very used to having toddlers in the house. |
Anonymous
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I'm sure you've had this thought, but I'll mention it anyway. I second keeping the house, if you can, because one day, the housing market WILL be better and you'll have much more equity. Long ago, way before I had children, '94 to be exact, I divorced my first husband and kept our condo. We moved around for his job, so my jobs back then were whatever I could find and didn't make much money. For at least 4 years, I had roommates and though it was hard, I knew it was the only way I'd be able to keep the condo. In '06, I sold it because I was living in OT with my current husband (and last), and walked away with $200K. Not retirement, but enough to make those years worth it.
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